We Partner With Cris Ellis c/o ASTRONOMY ALIVE

Specialists in Telescopes

When you contact us you are answered by the business owner, Cris Ellis - personally. Cris is a specialist and is available to assist every aspect of astronomy & optics - you are not merely contacting a ...... salesperson in a shop.

Cris is a globally leading specialist telescope designer. He has a long history designing specialist optics for many of the world's leading telescope manufacturers.

Contact Us

We are available via phone - 8am to 6pm - 7 days a week Phone: 03 9576 5325 or 0412 318 125

We accept customers by appointment between 8am and 5pm weekdays, and via personal arrangement on week ends International customers: Country code 61 Area Code 3 Number 9576 5325 - OR -

3 Main Things To Consider

It's easy to make an informed decision as long as you take the time to do a bit of research and find out more about what you're passionate about.

The aperture is probably the most important specification

If you're looking to get a telescope for seeing planets, its aperture is by far the crucial feature to give some thought to right off the bat. With a larger aperture, the unit will be capable of gathering more light and allow for more magnification. You've already established that you're interested in seeing planets, but what if you could do a bit more with your telescope?

Some models, boasting apertures that are more generous, can be used to see various deep-sky objects, as well. Think about having a peek at a nebula or a galaxy. Wouldn't that be amazing?

Is portability important for you?

While some people want to install their chosen devices in their bedrooms, living rooms, or on their balconies and have a look at the sky every evening before they go to sleep, other users are a bit more adventurous than that. Let's be honest. How many times haven't you envisaged going out to a field nearby and looking at the sky when there's no light pollution around you, or there are no cars to bother you with their headlights?

If the thought has even crossed your mind at least once, you might end up being frustrated if you get a model that's too heavy and too complicated to set up every time you take it out. Keep in mind that most portable alternatives don't have particularly large apertures, so you might be risking quality and performance if you are solely focused on getting a compact and easy to assemble device.

Types of telescopes to consider

Most units can be divided into three classes. Some are refractors, others are reflectors, and a whole different bunch is catadioptric. Refractors are a good choice if you've been searching for a decent telescope for planets viewing as they enable you to look at the moon and a wide range of other celestial bodies. Another advantage of this type consists of the fact that it usually boasts a rugged construction, and this means that you'll be able to pick it up and go on the field.

Reflectors usually have better apertures compared to refractors, so in a sense, they might offer better results for looking at deep-sky objects, nebulae, and other structures like these. Reflectors are either Newtonian or Dobsonian and the latter is to be preferred as it's simpler and easier to manage in terms of mounting and convenience.

Catadioptric options, also known as compound telescope, combine the best of both worlds. They share many of the features of refractors and reflectors all into one. Unlike their reflecting counterparts, they do not tend to accumulate dust. However, because of their design and size, you will need a very high-quality mounting system to make sure that the tube is safely secured and remains in place all of the time.